Walleye

Walleye
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Walleye
Creator:
Marjorie Savage
A walleye (Sander vitreus) photographed by Sam Stukel at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, March 3, 2021.
On the opening day of Minnesota’s fishing season in 1965, the Minnesota Legislature selected walleye as the state’s official fish. While walleyes are neither the state’s biggest fish nor its most abundant, they are consistently ranked as Minnesotans’ favorite.
Walleyes are the largest members of the Perch (
Percidae
family. They are typically brownish yellow or olive green in color, with a white belly and two transparent dorsal fins. The tail bears a distinctive white smudge on its lower edge. A walleye’s most noticeable feature, however, is its eyes. Like cats, skunks, raccoons, and deer, walleyes have a reflective layer of tissue behind their retinas, known as the tapetum lucidum (bright tapestry) that helps them see well in the dark.
The fish are known by many names, including walleyed pike, yellow pike, yellow pikeperch, and yellow pickerel. Their
Dakota
names include hoištázi (yellow-eyed fish), hopháthankáda (big-headed fish), and howakaŋ (sacred fish). Their
Ojibwe
name is ogaa, and their scientific name is
Sander vitreus.
“Vitreus,” Latin for “glassy,” is another reference to the fish’s eyes. “Sander,” the German word for walleye, represents the theory that walleyes originated in Europe and reached North America by crossing the Bering Isthmus during the Pliocene Epoch. The ancestors of today’s walleyes are believed to have dispersed throughout much of North America after passing through the Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins.
In the 1600s, when Ojibwe and other Anishinaabe people arrived in the Upper Midwest, they found an abundance of walleyes in the area’s lakes and rivers––enough to sustain themselves year round. They regarded walleyes as a sacred gift from Gitchi Manitou, the Creator, and believed that the fish, with their glow-in-the-dark eyes, symbolized knowledge, illumination, and guidance.
White settlers arriving from Europe in the 1800s relied on fishing as a primary food source during their first years in Minnesota. During World War I and World War II as well as the Great Depression, fishing provided sustenance for low-income Minnesotans. After opening in 1917, the Red Lake Nation Fishery (the first commercial walleye fishery of its kind in the US) supplied food to soldiers as well as
the home front
, and by 1929 the business was fully operated by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
In the post-war economic recovery of the 1950s and 60s, anglers became less interested in fishing for subsistence and more interested in sport fishing, competing to see who could land the biggest fish, the most fish, the wildest fish. Walleyes were an ideal sport-fishing target due to their large size and their abundance in Minnesota. On average, a walleye caught in Minnesota is about three to six years old, weighing in at a little over one pound and measuring between twelve and twenty inches. Left to mature, male walleyes can live fifteen to twenty years, approaching a trophy-sized weight of nearly ten pounds and thirty inches in length. Female walleyes are larger and live longer, potentially reaching forty inches at twenty-five years.
Fishing for walleyes is often described as a challenging puzzle, requiring different combinations of bait and tackle, depending on the weather, depth of water, time of year, and time of day. The fish tend to feed at dawn and dusk, when they can see their prey in the low light of their tapetum lucidum, but their prey can’t see them. When hooked, they dive fast and deep, and they’re fierce fighters with sharp teeth.
Most walleyes served in Minnesota pubs, restaurants, and fairground booths are caught and processed in Canada. With the exception of Red Lake Nation Fishery, commercial fishing for walleyes is largely restricted in Minnesota in order to protect walleye populations, honor treaties, and support recreational fishing.
In 1996, biologists studying walleyes in Red Lake found that the population had collapsed after years of overfishing. Knowing that the lake needed time to recover, a Red Lake’s fishermen’s cooperative voted to suspend all commercial gillnet fishing for the season. A year later the Red Lake Tribal Council halted hook-and-line fishing, and in 1999 it banned all fishing on Red Lake. With fishing shut down, a restocking effort began, and some thirty million walleye fry were released into the lake. Restocking was repeated in 2001 and 2003. By 2006, the lake reopened ahead of schedule with an estimated population of 7.5 million walleyes.
Correct
First Published:
April 22, 2026
Last Modified:
April 24, 2026
Bibliography
Chef’s Resources. Walleye Culinary Profile.
Connor, Jack. “Even 6-year-old Enjoys Walleye Success.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 19, 1965.
——— . “Fishing Even Better Second Day.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 17, 1965.
Enger, John. “Two Things That Changed Walleye Fishing in Minnesota.” MPR News, September 8, 2015.
“Fitting Honor for the Walleye.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 29, 1965.
Hebel, Ryan. “Understanding the Walleye Growth Rate: A Comprehensive Analysis.” Cobham River, Manitoba, Canada, December 8, 2023.
“It’s Official—Walleye Reigns as ‘State Fish.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 22, 1965.
Martin, Nick. “Red Lake, Green Future.” Patagonia, July 2020.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The History of Fishing in Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishing Tournaments.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  “Minnesota Fishing Regulations.” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2026.
Murray, Alison M., and Julien D. Divay. “First Evidence of Percids (Teleostei: Perciformes) in the Miocene of North America.”
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
48, no. 11 (November 2011): 1419-1424.
Red Lake Department of Natural Resources. Red Lake Fisheries Program: Giigoonyikewin.
Shave, Ed. “Mille Lacs in ‘Champion Form;’ Walleyes Strike Hard.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 17, 1948.
Sisiṭuŋwaŋ Waḣpeṭuŋwaŋ Daḳota Iapi Wiċoiye Wówapi: Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Lexicon. Hoistazi.
Swiers, Autumn. “Minnesota’s State Fish Is Delicious, But At Risk.” Tasting Table, October 30, 2024.
“The Story of How the Biggest Walleye Ever Caught in Minnesota Is Coming Home.” Boreal.org, May 25, 2022.
“State Fish of Minnesota: The Walleye.”
Gopher Historian
, Fall 1965, 11–13.
www.lrl.mn.gov/webcontent/leg/symbols/walleyearticle.pdf
Van Oosten, John, and Hilary J. Deason. “History of Red Lakes Fishery, 1917–38, with Observations on Population Status.” Special Scientific Report, United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1957.
Wisconsin Shipwrecks. French Canadian Fishing.
Wood, Drew. “How the Governor’s Fishing Opener Came to Be.”
Mpls.–St. Paul
magazine, May 21, 2020.
Related Resources
Primary
Dolan, Jamie, Ian Record, Miriam Jorgenson and Eileen Briggs. All Stars Profile: Red Lake Walleye Recovery Program | Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. Harvard Kennedy School, Project on Indigenous Governance and Development, Honoring Nations, 2013.
Kraker, Dan. “Why Walleye Is Minnesota’s ‘Holy Grail of Fish.’” MPR News, September 2015.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Ice Fishing for Walleye.
Quinn, Steve. “The World of Walleyes.” In-Fisherman, August 23, 2016.
Secondary
Apple, R. W., Jr. “Don’t Look for Walleye In a Place Called Wobegon.” The New York Times, May, 2002.
Kvalevog, Toby. “Revolutionize Your Walleye Fishing: Expert Tips and Cutting-edge Technology From Leisure Outdoor Adventures.” Leisure Outdoor Adventures, January 30, 2025.
Risku, Michael. Following the Fish: A History of Commercial Fishing Along Minnesota’s North Shore. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2026.
“Top Five Big Lakes to Fish in Minnesota: A Guide for Anglers.” OnXFish, December 17, 2024.
Web
Braunschweiger, Amy. “The Real Walleye Capital of the World.” Rust Belt magazine, February 8, 2019.
Brosdahl, Brian. “Technology Advancements and No-Fail Fall Walleyes.” Midwest Outdoors, September/October 2025.
Explore Minnesota. Minnesota’s Best Roadside Attractions.
Explore Minnesota. Minnesota Tourism Matters.
Explore Minnesota. Where to Go Walleye Fishing in Minnesota.
Kaiserzander. Profile–Zander.
Lake of the Woods Minnesota. Willie Walleye—The Biggest Catch.
RoadsideAmerica.com. Walleyed War of the Walleye Capitals.
US Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs. “Fish, Wildlife and Recreation: Authority and Responsibilities.” In Indian Affairs Manual. U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, February 13, 2017.
Related Images
A walleye (Sander vitreus) photographed by Sam Stukel at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, March 3, 2021.
Fishermen pose in a photography studio with their catch of walleye and perch. Photo by John Runk, 1913.
Painting of three walleye underwater created for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, undated.
Citizens of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa fillet walleye at Red Lake Fishery, 1935.
Postcard showing a catch of walleye pike, ca. 1950.
A woman in a fishing boat with a large walleye and a six-pack of beer, May 15, 1950.
A fisherman with a ten-pound walleye, Warroad. Photograph by Walter H. Wettschreck, ca. 1960.
A roadside statue overlooking Lake of the Woods and claiming the title “Walleye Capital of the World.” Photograph by Guenin Photo Studio, ca. 1960.
Postcard copy of a painting of Minnesota’s state fish by wildlife photographer Roger Preuss, 1965.
Minnesota Governor Karl Rolvaag and Iowa Governor Harold E. Hughes of Iowa at the Walleye Opener on Gunflint Lake, May 15, 1965.
From Amy Beyer's
Minnesota's State Symbols Coloring Book
(Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2017), page 5.
Walleye sculpture in Garrison, Minnesota, with Mille Lacs in the background. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user peterk17700, July 2, 2011.
Walleye
A walleye (Sander vitreus) photographed by Sam Stukel at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, March 3, 2021.
Public domain
Holding Location
Wikimedia Commons
Articles
More Information
Fishermen with their catch of walleye and perch
Fishermen pose in a photography studio with their catch of walleye and perch. Photo by John Runk, 1913.
Holding Location
Minnesota Historical Society
Articles
More Information
Walleye painting
Painting of three walleye underwater created for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, undated.
Public domain
Holding Location
Wikimedia Commons
Articles
More Information
Filleting walleye at Red Lake Fishery
Citizens of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa fillet walleye at Red Lake Fishery, 1935.
Public domain
Holding Location
National Archives
Articles
More Information
Catch of walleye pike
Postcard showing a catch of walleye pike, ca. 1950.
Holding Location
Minnesota Historical Society
Articles
More Information
Woman in a fishing boat with a walleye
A woman in a fishing boat with a large walleye and a six-pack of beer, May 15, 1950.
Holding Location
Minnesota Historical Society
Articles
More Information
Fisherman with a ten-pound walleye, Warroad
A fisherman with a ten-pound walleye, Warroad. Photograph by Walter H. Wettschreck, ca. 1960.
Holding Location
Minnesota Historical Society
Articles
More Information
Willie Walleye statue, Baudette
A roadside statue overlooking Lake of the Woods and claiming the title “Walleye Capital of the World.” Photograph by Guenin Photo Studio, ca. 1960.
Holding Location
Minnesota Historical Society
Articles
More Information
Walleye postcard
Postcard copy of a painting of Minnesota’s state fish by wildlife photographer Roger Preuss, 1965.
Holding Location
Minnesota Historical Society
Articles
More Information
Karl Rolvaag and Governor Harold E. Hughes with their walleye catch
Minnesota Governor Karl Rolvaag and Iowa Governor Harold E. Hughes of Iowa at the Walleye Opener on Gunflint Lake, May 15, 1965.
Holding Location
Minnesota Historical Society
Articles
More Information
Walleye in state symbols coloring book
From Amy Beyer's
Minnesota's State Symbols Coloring Book
(Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2017), page 5.
Public domain
Holding Location
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Articles
More Information
Walleye sculpture, Garrison
Walleye sculpture in Garrison, Minnesota, with Mille Lacs in the background. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user peterk17700, July 2, 2011.
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
Holding Location
Wikimedia Commons
Articles
More Information
Related Articles
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In response to a study that shows the walleye population is dangerously low, the Red Lake Tribal Council bans all fishing on upper and lower Red Lake in 1999. The ban allows for multiple years of restocking and recovery.
Chronology
ca. 3,000 years ago
The ancestors of Dakota people live in what is now Minnesota. Over time, they come to call the glassy-eyed fish in its lakes hoištázi (yellow-eyed fish) as well as hopháthankáda (big-headed fish), and howakáŋ (sacred fish).
1750s
Ojibwe people move into areas formerly occupied by the Dakota. They bring with them their own word for hoištázi: ogaa.
1870s
English-speaking migrants add a third word for the Minnesota fish: walleye.
1917
Red Lake Fishery, a walleye-fishing company, opens on the Red Lake Reservation.
1929
Red Lake Fishery is fully operated by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa.
1948
In May, Minnesota introduces the Governor’s Fishing Opener to promote the state’s fishing and recreation opportunities. The statewide celebration serves as a kick-off for the state’s summer fishing and tourism season.
1959
The town of Baudette, Minnesota, on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, claims the title “Walleye Capital of the World” and raises a steel and concrete statue of Willie the Walleye.
1965
In June, the Minnesota Legislature declares walleye the state’s official fish.
1965
An official portrait of the Minnesota state fish, painted by wildlife artist Roger Preuss, is presented to the citizens and the state of Minnesota in June. The painting, commissioned by the Minnesota Conservation Federation, is to be hung in the state capitol.
1979
On May 13, Minnesota’s record-setting walleye is caught by LeRoy Chiovitte of Hermantown, in the Seagull River near Grand Marais, on May 13. The fish is certified at seventeen pounds, eight ounces, measuring in at thirty-five and three quarters inches long.
1980
A fifteen-foot-long fiberglass fish statue is erected in Garrison, Minnesota. The state now has two towns claiming the title “Walleye Capital of the World.”
1996
Biologists announce that overfishing has reduced Red Lake’s walleye to dangerously low numbers.
1999
The Red Lake Tribal Council bans all fishing on Red Lake and begins a restocking project to restore the walleye population.
2001
Walleye restocking in Red Lake continues.
2003
Restocking in Red Lake continues.
2006
The walleye population in Red Lake reaches 7.5 million.
Bibliography
Chef’s Resources. Walleye Culinary Profile.
Connor, Jack. “Even 6-year-old Enjoys Walleye Success.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 19, 1965.
——— . “Fishing Even Better Second Day.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 17, 1965.
Enger, John. “Two Things That Changed Walleye Fishing in Minnesota.” MPR News, September 8, 2015.
“Fitting Honor for the Walleye.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 29, 1965.
Hebel, Ryan. “Understanding the Walleye Growth Rate: A Comprehensive Analysis.” Cobham River, Manitoba, Canada, December 8, 2023.
“It’s Official—Walleye Reigns as ‘State Fish.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 22, 1965.
Martin, Nick. “Red Lake, Green Future.” Patagonia, July 2020.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The History of Fishing in Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fishing Tournaments.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  “Minnesota Fishing Regulations.” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2026.
Murray, Alison M., and Julien D. Divay. “First Evidence of Percids (Teleostei: Perciformes) in the Miocene of North America.”
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
48, no. 11 (November 2011): 1419-1424.
Red Lake Department of Natural Resources. Red Lake Fisheries Program: Giigoonyikewin.
Shave, Ed. “Mille Lacs in ‘Champion Form;’ Walleyes Strike Hard.”
Minneapolis Star
, May 17, 1948.
Sisiṭuŋwaŋ Waḣpeṭuŋwaŋ Daḳota Iapi Wiċoiye Wówapi: Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Lexicon. Hoistazi.
Swiers, Autumn. “Minnesota’s State Fish Is Delicious, But At Risk.” Tasting Table, October 30, 2024.
“The Story of How the Biggest Walleye Ever Caught in Minnesota Is Coming Home.” Boreal.org, May 25, 2022.
“State Fish of Minnesota: The Walleye.”
Gopher Historian
, Fall 1965, 11–13.
www.lrl.mn.gov/webcontent/leg/symbols/walleyearticle.pdf
Van Oosten, John, and Hilary J. Deason. “History of Red Lakes Fishery, 1917–38, with Observations on Population Status.” Special Scientific Report, United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1957.
Wisconsin Shipwrecks. French Canadian Fishing.
Wood, Drew. “How the Governor’s Fishing Opener Came to Be.”
Mpls.–St. Paul
magazine, May 21, 2020.
Related Resources
Primary
Dolan, Jamie, Ian Record, Miriam Jorgenson and Eileen Briggs. All Stars Profile: Red Lake Walleye Recovery Program | Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. Harvard Kennedy School, Project on Indigenous Governance and Development, Honoring Nations, 2013.
Kraker, Dan. “Why Walleye Is Minnesota’s ‘Holy Grail of Fish.’” MPR News, September 2015.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Ice Fishing for Walleye.
Quinn, Steve. “The World of Walleyes.” In-Fisherman, August 23, 2016.
Secondary
Apple, R. W., Jr. “Don’t Look for Walleye In a Place Called Wobegon.” The New York Times, May, 2002.
Kvalevog, Toby. “Revolutionize Your Walleye Fishing: Expert Tips and Cutting-edge Technology From Leisure Outdoor Adventures.” Leisure Outdoor Adventures, January 30, 2025.
Risku, Michael. Following the Fish: A History of Commercial Fishing Along Minnesota’s North Shore. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2026.
“Top Five Big Lakes to Fish in Minnesota: A Guide for Anglers.” OnXFish, December 17, 2024.
Web
Braunschweiger, Amy. “The Real Walleye Capital of the World.” Rust Belt magazine, February 8, 2019.
Brosdahl, Brian. “Technology Advancements and No-Fail Fall Walleyes.” Midwest Outdoors, September/October 2025.
Explore Minnesota. Minnesota’s Best Roadside Attractions.
Explore Minnesota. Minnesota Tourism Matters.
Explore Minnesota. Where to Go Walleye Fishing in Minnesota.
Kaiserzander. Profile–Zander.
Lake of the Woods Minnesota. Willie Walleye—The Biggest Catch.
RoadsideAmerica.com. Walleyed War of the Walleye Capitals.
US Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs. “Fish, Wildlife and Recreation: Authority and Responsibilities.” In Indian Affairs Manual. U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, February 13, 2017.